Unique Stunt Jumps

For the art of stunting, see Stunting.

Unique Stunt Jumps (named Unique Jumps in 3D Universe; later renamed Stunt Jumps in Grand Theft Auto IV) are a feature in every Grand Theft Auto game since Grand Theft Auto III (with the exception of Grand Theft Auto Advance).

Description

A Stunt Jump usually involves using a vehicle or motorcycle to jump off a ramp of some sort (sometimes an actual ramp, or another inclined surface like a slanted roof or staircase), then to catch a few seconds of airtime, then land on the ground without crashing. The game tracks these for your stats, and completing all is usually required for 100% completion (The exception is Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas). Each unique jump has pre-defined takeoff and landing areas; miss either, and the jump is incomplete. If your vehicle hits the takeoff area in more-or-less the right direction, the game switches to a slow-motion cutscene panoramic view as your vehicle launches from the takeoff area (which is the main way one can tell a unique stunt jump from a nondescript ramp jump, of which there are many). Upon landing, indication of success is given, while an unsuccessful jump will receive no message.

Some jumps require high speed, thus are only feasible on a fast motorbike such as a FCR-900 or NRG-500/NRG-900 and sometimes also require the character to lean forward on the bike for increased speed. In extreme cases, a fast car such as an Infernus equipped with nitrous is needed if the run-up doesn't give enough speed or is short or performed in an area crowded with objects. In other jumps, too much speed may lead you to overshoot the landing area. In the 3D Universe, there are also Insane Stunt Jumps, which aren't required for 100%, don't have to done at a set location and pay different amounts depending on the difficulty of the stunt. In GTA San Andreas it is not uncommon to be rewarded both a Unique Stunt Jump and an Insane Stunt Jump bonus on the same jump, or to at least receive the Insane Stunt Jump bonus as a booby prize if the main jump fails, though unlike insane stunt jumps, unique stunt jump awards in GTA San Andreas are presented only on first successful completion of the jump.

Evolution

Stunt jumps first appeared in Grand Theft Auto III, and have been in every game since except Grand Theft Auto Advance. Early GTA games gave no indication to distinguish failed unique stunt jumps from those successfully completed. To address this, modders have developed add-on tools such as Demarest's Uniquecall to list or show on the map which jumps remain. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars give the player the option of showing completed jumps on the radar.

An early form of Unique Stunt Jumps appears in GTA 2 and possibly GTA 1. They were simply called Insane Stunt Bonus instead and often were pretty big jumps. An announcer would call out when you successfully jumped one.

Skip to 5:37 of the video to see the stunt jump.

GTA 2. PC. All 8 Hidden Wang Cars. Residential Area

Early form of Unique Stunt Jumps in GTA 2

GTA III

This introduced stunt jumps. There are 20 stunt jumps spread throughout Liberty City, 8 in Portland Island, 4 on Staunton Island, and 8 in Shoreside Vale. Compared to later games, the stunt jumps in GTA III are easy.

GTA Vice City

There are 36 unique jumps in GTA Vice City, and are most easily completed using the PCJ-600 motorcycle. In fact, some jumps cannot be performed using anything else. The jumps in GTA Vice City are more difficult than those in GTA III, some being much longer and even extending over water.

GTA San Andreas

Main article: Unique Stunt Jumps in GTA San Andreas

There are 70 unique stunt jumps in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, most are quite difficult. The majority are situated beside each other, with very few being isolated. These jumps are relatively easy to find throughout the State of San Andreas, with fairly obvious take-off and landing areas. There are a number of such areas - such as the dedication plaque-cum-ramp at the top of Mount Chiliad - that can be used for jumping but are not considered unique stunt jumps; as always, the appearance of a slow-motion cinematic shot as the jump is attempted is the clue that it is a unique stunt jump. The game features an unlimited number of insane stunt jumps awards that are presented whenever CJ completes a wild stunt - and often if a unique stunt jump is failed in a spectacular fashion. The game tracks the player's stunt jumps as 'Unique Stunt Jumps found - X out of 70' for the ones that are attempted, irrespective of whether it is sucessful or not. 'Unique Stunt Jumps done - Y of out 70' denote the ones found and completed as required.

Completing the 70 Jumps is not necessary for getting 100% completion. This is the only game in the GTA series that doesn't require it. However some missions, such as Small Town Bank and Yay Ka-Boom-Boom, incorporate unique stunt jumps into the mission. Each successful jump pays an award of $500 on first completion; there is no overall reward for completing all 70 except Carl earns $35,000 for doing them.

GTA Liberty City Stories

There are 26 stunt jumps in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. They are spread evenly throughout the 3 islands. Each jump pays $250. Completing the first stunt jump will also reward the player with the gag "Underwear Outfit" prize, available at all three safehouses.

GTA Vice City Stories

The PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories differ in the number of jumps. The PSP version contains 30 Stunts, and the PS2 version contains 36.

GTA IV

Main article: Stunt Jumps in GTA IV

In the Grand Theft Auto IV version of Liberty City, there are 50 stunt jumps. Completing all 50 will bring the player two ticks closer to 100%. Completing all 50 unlocks the Daredevil achievement, awarding 30 gamerscore on the Xbox 360 or a silver trophy on the PS3. There are major changes in unique stunt jumps from the 3D Universe to GTA IV, the largest being that the player no longer collects money for doing stunt jumps. Another significant change is that instead of landing without crashing like in previous games, the player must land directly on the destination area. These stunt jumps are still available in its episodes, however when they're done, no reward is given.

GTA Chinatown Wars

File:Rust Browns Billbord CTW.png

One of the Rusty Brown's Ring Donuts billboards that marks a USJ in GTA Chinatown Wars.

In this game each Unique Stunt Jump is marked with a wooden Rusty Brown's Ring Donuts billboard that you have to destroy, making locating them easier. Despite each billboard having a ramp leading up to it, the player technically doesn't have to "crash" through them, as any part of the vehicle can be used, even a single tire gliding down. It is the first game to present USJs in this way. There are 30 throughout the game.

GTA V

Main article: Stunt Jumps in GTA V

Stunt Jumps return in Grand Theft Auto V. Once again, there are 50 stunt jumps around the state that can be completed by any of the three protagonists but only 25 are needed for 100% completion. Completing all 50 earns an achievement.